Aubrey Pet Health Maintenance

Veterinary Internal Medicine

Despite the very best preventive care, animals can become sick. When this happens, it is stressful for both you and your pet, especially because you can't simply ask your companion what's wrong. You need a skilled veterinarian whom you can trust to accurately diagnose and effectively treat your pet.

While the focus of our medical practice at Town and Country Hospital is your pet's wellness, an important part of our services is the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases that can affect your pet's internal organs and body systems. Our experienced veterinarians, supported by advanced diagnostic technology, are able identify and effectively treat a range of complex internal medicine diseases.

As part of our commitment to provide you with access to the best medical care for your pet, we have also invested in the latest advanced diagnostic technology. After performing a thorough examination, diagnostic tests are sometimes necessary in order to identify the underlying cause of your pet's illness. It is our policy to review any recommended tests with you before they are performed, as well as discuss all the available treatment options and fees.

Allergies and Skin Problems in Dogs and Cats

Allergies are quite common in dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, typically due to fleas, but can also be the result of food or an inhaled irritant like dust or pollen. Most allergies appear after the pet is six months of age with the majority of affected dogs over age two. The most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin, either localized or generalized. Other symptoms include respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing, and wheezing) or digestive problems causing vomiting, flatulence, or diarrhea.

Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats. A normal cat experiences only minor skin irritation at the site of the bite. The flea allergic cat, on the other hand, has a severe, itch-producing reaction when the flea's saliva is deposited in the skin. Just one bite causes such intense itching that the cat may severely scratch or chew itself, leading to hair loss and open sores or scabs on the skin. The area most commonly involved is over the rump or base of the tail.

It is important to be able to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions. These include:

Scratching, licking, chewing or biting the skin, feet and ears.

Red, raised, scaly areas on the skin

Bumps, crusts or pus filled vesicles on the skin

Increased skin pigmentation

Thickened skin

Loss of hair

Salivary staining (brown color)

Head shaking

If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, please make an appointment to have him or her seen by one of the veterinarians at Town & Country Animal Hospital. We will evaluate your pet, determine the most effective method of treatment, and explain how you can prevent future problems. If left untreated, allergic reactions and skin conditions can become serious medical concerns.

Glaucoma Prevention

Glaucoma is a common condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye increases, resulting in damage to the optic nerve, followed by loss of vision and blindness. There are two types of glaucoma. Primary, or chronic, glaucoma is hereditary or develops as your pet ages. Secondary, or acute, glaucoma develops as the result of an injury or illness. Because secondary glaucoma can progress rapidly, it is considered an emergency situation.
Symptoms of glaucoma to look for include:

Redness in the eye

Tearing or discharge

Eye sensitivity to light

Pain

Cloudy-looking eye

Bulging eyeball

The experienced veterinarians at Town & Country Animal Hospital recommend that your pet receive a routine glaucoma exam as part of his or her regular wellness care. The exam is not only an effective screening measure for chronic and acute glaucoma, it can also help set a baseline measurement of your pet's normal intraocular pressure (IOP). Establishing an IOP baseline is important because the normal measurement can vary between species, breeds, and even individual pets.

This is a noninvasive, simple procedure that should not cause your pet any pain or discomfort. We apply a mild anesthetic eye-drop to ensure your pet is comfortable during the exam.

Treating Your Pet's Cancer

The standard treatment for almost all pet cancers at Town & Country Animal Hospital is surgical removal of the lump. Benign (non-invasive, non-spreading) cancers in an accessible, well-defined area are almost always permanently cured by surgical removal. Surgery is also the best treatment for the majority of malignant cancers that have not yet spread (metastasized). Complex procedures may require referral to a specialist. Recovery from most surgery is rapid and post-surgical pain is controllable using appropriate medications.

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that are designed to be damaging to cancer cells but unfortunately, they typically have some toxicity for healthy cells as well. Although much less serious than the effects felt by humans, some pets experience side effects such as anemia, reduced resistance to infection, and gastrointestinal upset. Our medical team will help you monitor your pet for these conditions.

Chemotherapy for pets has been designed to improve their quality of life and maximize their lifespans. Protocols are developed to minimize side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lowered resistance to infection. These effects can be moderated or eliminated by use of appropriate medications and adjustment of the chemotherapy protocol.

Before making the decision on the appropriate course of action for your pet, please discuss all of the relevant factors with our medical team so that you can make an informed choice. Our understanding of cancer is increasing all the time, leading to better treatment approaches, quality of life, and improved outcomes.

Pet Nutritonal Counseling in Aubrey

Proper nutrition and a balanced diet, along with fresh, clean water, is an essential ingredient for your pet's overall good health. As your pet's caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable that you control.

Feeding your pet the highest-quality food you can afford is one of the best ways you can contribute to his or her health and vitality. Although the differences between premium and budget varieties may not be apparent on their nutrition labels, they are in the quality of the ingredients. Both may contain the same amount of protein but be very different when it comes to digestibility and nutritional value. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only effects general health, but will improve the quality and length of your pet's life.

To support your efforts, the doctors at Town & Country Animal Hospital perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination, and give recommendations based on what we see. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs, and feeding strategies for your individual pet. We will also help you navigate pet food claims so you can make the most informed choices.

Prescription Diets

Some pets have serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that benefit from a special diet. When that is the case, we may recommend feeding a special prescription diet. Making this change can have a significant positive impact on your pet's overall health and well-being.

Prescription diets benefit medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney disease, digestive problems, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes, and more. Town & Country Animal Hospital carries a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not carry, we can easily order it for you.